We are living at a time of major upheaval: climate crisis, growing inequality, pandemics, rise of the far right. These crises are not accidents: they are the product of a system organized around profit, in service of the 1%, to the detriment of people and the planet. Faced with this reality, our union reaction can no longer be timid, fragmented or defensive.

That is Baba Aye’s clear and powerful message, delivered in a vibrant talk to the delegates at the 13^th convention. He is the Health and Social Sector Officer for Public Services International. With clarity and conviction, he reiterated that unions have immense potential for social change, provided they dare to fight, dare to build and dare to dream differently.

“If you fight you might lose, if you don’t you have already lost.” – Bertolt Brecht

Mr. Aye explained the three levers of struggle that we must strengthen:

1. Our union strength: we build our power through collective organization, popular education, and local and international mobilization. Our struggles are all connected: health, climate, working conditions, gender equality, social and economic justice.
2. Public services: defending accessible, quality and universal care means opposing its rampant privatization. It means recognizing that health care is a right and not a commodity. It is also a feminist action: public services are predominantly provided by women.
3. The future we want: a future built on social justice, democracy and true equality. To achieve this, we need a bold strategy that has strong principles and flexible actions. Mobilizing young people, including LGBTQ+ voices, defending women’s rights, rethinking work time, valuing life beyond productivity.

Call for boldness and solidarity

Baba Aye’s message is crystal clear: change will not come from on high, it will come from us. From our ability to stand strong, to say no to the unacceptable, to join forces in the fight for dignity. He is challenging us to be unwavering and to keep building solidarity, locally and globally.

Let’s keep fighting

The PSI is the global union federation of workers in public services with which the FIQ is proudly affiliated. Baba Aye’s conference inspired delegates to keep fighting union and feminist battles and to reinvigorate all healthcare professionals’ commitment.

Our union battles are a powerful tool for building a future where health, equality and justice are more important than profit.